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Sunday, February 24

I've realised this week that I'm awfully forgetful at taking snapshots of my crafty projects. Looking back at my weekly import of snaps, and lo and behold they are chock full of the kids and food. Hmmmmm, perhaps due to the fact that the camera does a lot of sitting on the kitchen bench at my house. Rest assured there are crafty projects happening in Casa MiraNarnie...they just aren't recorded here...perhaps next week.

1. making a pickle...and straining all those wonderful herbs and spices that make it so good
2. Oh my very dearest friend, her beautiful daughter and the son she is growing in her belly
3. Pancakes + weekends = match made in heaven and the best way to celebrate a Saturday morning
4. My newest purchase - a veggie cleaner. It works so well you get all the dirt off and you needed even peel your carrots or potatoes!
5. Those carrots...yum! They were sliced straight after cleaning and devoured with hommus.
6. Lazy weekends call for staying in your pj's all day and not brushing your hair.
7. Wanting to take pictures and so much better than me at navigating her way through technology.

Wednesday, February 20

You know one art that we are all apart of? Portraiture.
If you've ever held a camera or phone at someone and taken a snap then you are a portrait photographer. This week I've taken the liberty of friendship to those close to me and asked a few to let me take some portraits of them. In all sorts of light, in many different ways.
Oh and lets not forget the prop holders, those two wonderful girls were such fun 'on location' so they get an honourary mention.

I'm usually just a happy-go-lucky snap when I can kinda girl, so it was a challenge yet fun having some planning, thought and visualising going on for these images. Whilst some were disasters, there were a few I really like.

Do you have willing friends to assist you with your crazy projects?
And can I ask, which image is your favourite?

Monday, February 18

It's not "our" homegrown, but it is homegrown - by a farmer not far from here, packaged just hours before we receive it - the dirt still evident and the imperfections signally what I often cringed about when I bought perfectly modified veg from the major conglomerates...

Seasonal vegetables and a quick chat with the man behind the idea and delivery of this organic produce saw me putting out some lovely veg dishes for our guests over the weekend.

What seasonal dishes are you making at your house?

Beetroot & Fetta salad - poach beetroot for about 30 minutes or until you can insert a knife...allow to cool. Peel skin and cut into small cubes. Add some finely sliced red onion and mix together some good quality olive oil, balsamic vinegar, s + p to your taste and drizzle over the beets. Add some chopped spring onions and then crumble some feta on top. Broccoli with anchovies and parmesan - slice up your broccoli heads and a few cloves of garlic. With a pan on high heat and a dash of oil, start frying them up. Add a few chopped up anchovies and then about half a cup of water. Pop the lid on and let the broccoli cook to your liking. transfer to a serving dish and drizzle some oil (I used a lovely white truffle oil I splurged on a while back that I use very sparingly) and a shaving of parmesan or pana gradano cheese.

Friday, February 15

The week is up, the weekend is here and I've not spent much time here this week...talk about life getting in the way. In a full on good way though. You know, when things all just happen all at once however, now the calm has come, I invited some lovely blooms into the house after spending most of the day with my cleaning groove going. Ah...weekend here I come. We've got family staying with us, and I go collect my first organic veg box tomorrow and I've planned a bit of baking, sightseeing around this lovely city and loads of playing with my nieces...

1 & 2 - Images I used as part of my photographic assignments. Learning about low key images, black and white conversion....
3 & 6 - Beautiful blooms making me smile each time I walk past them
4 - home made peanut butter on homemade wholemeal bread - It really doesn't get any better than this.
5 - little monopoly cars...ready and waiting.

what have you been up to this week? and what do you have planned for the weekend? Whatever you do, I hope you squeeze in some fun

Thursday, February 7

My girlfriend had a baby late last year and for school pick she carries baby James in her baby born a little someone had a crafty idea. And so with deep brown eyes gazing up at me one day, she whispered in her sweetest voice the request to make a baby carrier.

Ted. The story of Ted is a sweet one. Originally my brothers bear, I traded him when I was about four years old. I wanted him, and my brother wanted my bigger panda bear. We swapped and both of us were happy. Ted, has been an integral part of my childhood and when I had children, he moved from my room, into theirs. I share stories of Ted, the time I ripped his arm off and my mum had to sew it back on....and all the home made clothes that she made for him. Ted is special and the kids know and understand that he holds an emotional attachment for me. So when my daughter suggested we make a baby carrier for Ted, well, it seemed just right.

With a fumbled drawing, more imagination and a lot of making it up as I went along....those eager eyes never straying...glued to the machine, watching patiently as I ironed and asking a bizzilion questions every step I took I marvelled at our crafting expeditions together.

The carrier is not perfect, but then again that's what happens when you make it up as you go along. However, my customer is happy, thrilled in fact and loves that she can multi-task and keep Ted close to her and kiss his head whenever she chooses.

Wednesday, February 6

A new book was all it took
I high tailed down to the local market in search of inspiration.
With our nana trolley wheeled behind us and eager eyes on the lookout
It didn't take long to make a selection
Beautiful sweet smelling roma tomatos
And at a price that meant some loose change was handed over
Humble time spent washing, slicing and measuring
Before hours and hours, and then some more of slow roasting

1.8kg of roma tomatoes, washed and halved or quartered if they are large || add 2 tablespoons of caster sugar, salt and pepper and 2 teaspoons of oregano and get your hands in there and mix it all about || On a large baking plate, set out the tomatoes so as they are spaced out, not touching || In a warm oven set at 50 degrees bake for 7 - 12 hours, yes you read that right....bake all day long and then when you done, just turn off the oven and leave them in there...you can jimmy the oven door open if you like your tomatoes more semi dried...me I like still a little juicy || Once they're done, in a saucepan add 200ml olive oil with 3 tablespoons of white wine vinegar and another teaspoon of oregano || you could also add a diced up small chilli too...you know...to add a little kick. Bring to the boil - then allow to cool || Place your tomatoes in sterilised jars, squishing them in real good || Pour over your cooled oil mix, right to the top....top up with more oil if you require || seal the jars and your done || Oh and then open that night to devour with fresh crusty bread and good vino.
what preserves do like to make in the Summer time?